His Shop

There was something about it
the way he had things
just so, from the start
a level, freshly cut boards
of equal length
masonry bits
a Black and Decker drill
a stud gun
set the peg board,
all the separate hooks, plates,
brackets for tools just so
the old shop vac hooked by a hose
to the output of the radial-arm saw
the extensions of the supports on either side
hinged and able to be moved
the shop bench, made by your own hands
numbered sections, preset holes
deep screws to secure the sections
boxes of nails, of screws, bolts, washers, nuts
lined up on the bench
tools for the skis separated
as if by season
on the neat shop bench
a fluorescent bulb, with a string extending the cord
plug into the wire above, in another shop
years after the first one was replaced
in another home
same precious, care, of the shopkeeper
everything just so
until we grew older

August 20, 2006 19:52

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.